Orthodontia wrench.



APatenu'm my le, 190|.

G. E.- B own. onTHonoNTlA 'waucu (Application med mr. '11,: 1901.)

,(No Model.)

Wlnesses THE nnnms PErERs co.. Fumo-nwo., wnsnmurou. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

oRTHoDoNTiA WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,374, dated July 16, 1901. Application tied Merch 11, 1901, senti No. 50,706 (No man.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi-V nois, have invented a new and useful Orthodontia Wrench, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to an orthodontia wrench for use in the correction of irregularities of the teeth, and the same has been devised for the purpose of removing, replacing, or tightening the nuts or burs on the arch-wire or other appliance where the distal end projects through a support attached to the molar or bicuspid teeth, the nuts or burs being distal to the ends of the supports on each side.

With these and other objects and advan tages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a setof teeth, showing the arch-wire in position thereon and the wrench in elevation below the same. Figs. 2 and 3 respectively show enlarged longitudinal vertical sections of the opposite end portions of the Wrench. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views. 5

The numeral 1 designates a plaster model, which is illustrated to define the application and use of the 4improved device. To the molars or bicuspids 2 on eachside a support 3 is secured and provided with an upper tubular guide 4, and through the guides on each side the extremities of an arch-Wire 5 are movably extended, the said extremities being terminally threaded, as at 6, the said threaded terminals being engaged by nuts 7, which are adjusted against the ends of the guides to tighten the arch-wire 5.

The improved wrench comprises a tubular stem 8 of suitable length, having on one end a milled turn-head 9, with circumferential shoulders 10, and on the opposite end of said stem is secured a pinion 11. The head 9 has a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and -in alinement with that of the stem, and through the head and stem a rod 12 is inserted and has a keeper 13 secured to one end, which is provided with angular terminal spurs 14, that it in corresponding openings formed at diametrically opposite p'oints in the Outer edge of a holder 15, disposed at right angles to the stem and rod and extended in diametrical relation to the head 9 to provide a reliable gripping device and convenient means of operatively exposing the said head. The said holder has a central slot 16 to expose the opposite portions and permit operation of the head 9V and is also formed of doubled sheet metal,which is bent around the circumferential shoulders 10 to maintain the several parts in place. The holder presents opposite smooth surfaces,over which the fingers of the operator can easily slip or slide during the rotation of the head and is also convenient in primarily placing the entire Wrench in position for engagement with the nuts on the arch-wire. The end of the rod 12 opposite that on which the holder is located is screw-threaded to receive a nut 17 to eccentrically hold a shield or support 18, which covers a greater portion of the pinion 11, and in the outer end of the said shieldorsupporta nut-socket 19 is rotatably mounted and projected longitudinally toward the holder 15 in a plane parallel Vwith the stem 8. The said socket has a pinion 2O secured to or integrally formed therewith which is held in continual mesh with the pinion 1l, and projecting centrally from the pinion is a iianged journal 21, rotatably mounted in a bearinglange 22 on the rear of the shield or support. A bore 23 extends longitudinally through the pinion 2O and the iianged journal 2l, which opens into the nut-socket 19, to permit the archL wire terminals to project therethrough for any length necessary and in accordance With the adjustment of 'the nuts 7, the said bore 23 being considerably larger than the arch-wire terminals, so as to fully clear the latter.

In arranging the wrench for use the nutsocket may be completely turned around the stem by turning the entire implement or rotating the holder, though it is not necessary to rotate the holder in view of the fact that the entire device can be bodily moved. The implement is thenpushed back until the nutsocket clears the end of the wire having the nut thereon to be engaged, and the socket is then drawn forwardly or outwardly through the mouth of the patient, so as to cause the wire extremity to pass through the socket and the journal 21, and thereby permit the socket to be iitted over the nut 7. After the socket is applied to the nut the operator rotates the head 9, and in turn the latter rotates the stem 8, thereby actuating the pinion ll,and the latter through the pinion 2O rotates the socket 19. By this means the nuts may be tightened as desired, and during such operation the holder and head will be located outside the mouth of the patient without inconveniencing the latter and in convenient position for actuation by the operator.

The improved device can also be used for any other purpose to which it may be applicable, and as the parts are separable they can be more readily cleaned, or in the event of wear or injury thereto others can be substituted therefor without rendering the entire device useless by the breakage or impairment of a single part.

Changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. An orthodontia wrench comprising a stem having an operating-head on one end and a pinion fixed to the opposite end, a rod extending completely through the stem and having a holder with a slot therethrough to fit over and expose the head of the stem, a

support firmly held on the end of the rod adjacent to the end of the stem carrying the pinion, and a socket device rotatably mounted in the support and having a pinion in engagement with the pinion on the stem.

2. An orthodontia Wrench, comprising a rotatable tubular stem having a head on one end and a pinion xed on the opposite end, a rod extending through the stem and connected to a holder over the head of the stem, said holder having a slot therein through which said head is exposed, a support firmly held on the end of the rod adjacent to the end of the stem carrying the pinion, and a socket device rotatably mounted in the support and having a pinion in engagement with that of the stem, said socket device having a front socket portion and a reduced opening leading from the latter through the said device.

8. An orthodontia Wrench, comprisingarotatable tubular stem having a head on one end, a rod extending through said stem and connected to a holder at one end embracing the head and through which the latter is exposed, the holder being extended in diametrical relation to the h ead, a support on the rod opposite that carrying the holder and provided with a socket device, the latter being clearly open at the front, and means on the rod and in said support for rotating said socket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence ot' two witnesses.

GEORGE E. BROWN.

Witnesses:

T. W. BAIRD, HENRY C. KoLL. 

